Washing machine



Oct. 30, 1934. T, E, D. BILDE ET AL WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet Oct. 30, 1934. T, E, D. BlLDE- ET AL WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a @INVE TO 5 (/PfNEY Patented Oct. 30, 1934 PATENT OFFICE WASHING MACHINE Tord Erik Daniel Bilde and Sven Gustaf Adolf Fagerberg, Stockholm, Sweden Application August 31, 1931, Serial No. 560,334 In Sweden September 3, 1930 6 Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines and more particularly to washing machines of the type provided with a driving device such as an electric motor, an oscillating washing mem her and transmission mechanism connecting said member to the driving device.

In such machines as hitherto constructed, it

' has been found that the turning moments resulting from the oscillations of the washing member produce stresses on the driving shaft of the driving device and it is the object of this invention to provide an arrangement which reduces or eliminates these disadvantageous stresses. 4

According to the present invention there is provided a second oscillating member connected to the driving device which substantially counterbalances the turning moments resulting from the oscillations of the washing member so that the resultant turning moment on the shaft of the driving, device is substantially constant.

The second oscillating member preferably comprises a second oscillating washing member which is connected to the same driving device as the first oscillatable washing member by transmission elements which are so. constructed and arranged relatively to the transmission mechanism for driving the first member that the washing members oscillate with relative phase displacement.

Furthermore, in accordance with the invention the second oscillating member may be of less weight than the first member, while the transmission elements connecting the same to the driving device have a greater transmission ratio than the mechanism connecting the first member to said device.

The oscillating washing members may comprise washing containers and a coupling mechanism is preferably provided between the driving device and one of the washing members so as to be adapted on actuation to change the movement of said member from an oscillating to a rotating movement and vice-versa. In this case it is preferred to provide a free coupling or like element between the driving device and the other washing member which is adapted to co-operate with the coupling mechanism in such manner that on actuation of said mechanism to cause rotation of said first member the second member is disconnected from the driving device and vice-versa.

The invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to an embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 shows a sectional elevation of a washing machine constructed according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with the covers thereof removed.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a casing supported by legs 12 which are provided with rollers 11. Within casing 10 are arranged two containers 13 and 14 which are provided with covers 15 and' 16 respectively. The container 13 is carried by a drive element 17 which is rotatably journalled on a ball bearing 18 and connected with a hollow shaft 19, which in turn extends through a bearing 21 arranged on a frame 20. The drive element 17 is connected to a connecting rod 22 which is adapted to be reciprocated by means of a crank shaft 23. The crank shaft 23 is mounted on a shaft 24 on which a worm Wheel 25 is journalled.

The container 14 is surrounded by a cylindrical jacket 26 provided with a cover 2'7 which may be secured in place by means of a yoke 28. In cover 27 is located a bearing device 29 for the upper part of the container 14 and the cover 16. The lower part of the container 14 is connected to a shaft 30 which is rotatably. journalled in frame 20 in a ball bearing 31. A worm wheel 32 is freely mounted on shaft 30, the lower part of said worm wheel being connected to a conical sleeve 33 into which a conical member 35 secured to a gear 34 is adapted to enter. The members 34 and 35 are mounted for axial displacement on the shaft 30 by means of a pin 37 engaging with an axial slot 36 by which arrangement members 34 and 35 are prevented from rotating relatively to shaft 30. Members 33 and 35 thus comprise a clutch for engaging gear 32 with shaft 30.

The worm wheels 25 and 32 are adapted to be driven by a shaft 40 formed with two Worms 38 and 39, said shaft being rigidly connected to the shaft of a driving motor 41. To the lower part of the shaft 24 is rigidly connected one end of a crank arm 42, the other end of arm 42 being pivotally connected to a rack 43 adapted to co-operate with gear 34. On the lower part of shaft 30 is freely journalled an arm 45 which maintains the rack in contact with gear 34 by means of a pin 46 arranged on the arm and entering into a slot 47 in the rack 43.

The machine is provided with a coupling mechanism consisting of a rotatable shaft 48, the outer end of which is provided with a lever which a pin 5'7 fixed to member 55 extends. In this way rotation of the member 55 relatively to the shaft 24 is prevented. The member 55' is provided with projections 58 adapted to enter into corresponding recesses on the worm wheel 25 and thus to interlock the members 55 and 25. The fork 53 engages with an annular groove 59 in the conical member 35. Member 55 thus comprisesa clutch member for engaging gear 25 with the crank shaft.

The machine operates in the following manner:

During washing, the different parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 1. As soon as the motor 41 is started the containers 13 and 14 commence to oscillate; the container 13 oscillates because the worm wheel 25 is locked by means of the coupling member 55 to the shaft 24 and transmits a reciprocating movement to the lever 22 connected to the container 13 by-means of the crank 23 while the container 14 oscillates because the crank arm 42 gives the rack 43 cooperating with the gear wheel 34 a reciprocating movement. Both the above mentioned containers are used if necessary for holding washing. From Fig. 2 it will be clear that the cranks 23 and 42 are superposed one above the other and consequently the arm 22 and the rack 43 may be considered as journalled on the same pin. Furthermore it will be clear from Fig. 2 that the arm 22 and the rack 43 are disposed at the angle of about 90 to each other. The result is that the smaller mass represented by the container- 14 together with its contents during operation balances the greater mass represented by the container 13 with its contents, since when the arm 22 is at the beginning or 'the end of its stroke the rack 43 is in the middle of its stroke or vice-versa. From the relative dimensions of the different elements it is apparent that the transmission ratio between the motor 41 and the container 14 is greater than the transmission ratio between the motor and the container 13. This is necessary if complete or substantially complete counterbalancing is to be obtained by different sized oscillating members.

As soon as the washing is completed washing liquid present in the container 13 is drawn off through the discharge device 60, 61, 62, the clothes are transferred to the container 14 and the lever 49 is reversed, the arms 50 and 51 being thus rotated and carrying with them the coupling members 55 and 35 so that the coupling between the gear 25 and member 55 is released, the gear 34 becomes free from contact with the rack 43 and the member 35 engages with the conical sleeve 33. The worm wheel 25 is now freely rotatable relative to the shaft 24 so that the container 13 is disconnected from the drive while the container 14 is directly driven by the worm wheel 32 at a high speed and serves as a centrifuge.

By virtue of the conical form of the container 14 liquid present therein and in the clothes is forced upwards along the container walls and is ejected against the jacket 26 through openings 63 in the upper part of the container. The water thrown out is collected in a channel 64 formed in the lower part of the jacket 26 and passes away through an outlet pipe 65 which may be fixed to the jacket. The lower. part of the container 14 is provided with an outwardly directed rib or skirt 66 which prevents washing liquid'from running down on to the frame 20.

Having now particularly described and ascertained. the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is:-

1. In a washing machine, a first washing member, a second washing member lighter than said first washing member, a driving motor,

means for operatively connecting said motorto said first washing member for oscillating said first washing member-through an arc of given amplitude, and means for operatively connecting said motor to said second washing member for oscillating said second member but of phase with said first member and through an arc of greater amplitude.

2. In a washing machine, a first washing member, a second washing member lighter than said first washing member, a driving motor, means for operatively connecting said motor to said first washing member for oscillating said first washing member through an arc of given amplitude, and means for operatively connecting said motor to said second washing member for oscillating said second member out of phase with said first member and through an arc of greater amplitude, the amplitudes of said arcs being substantially inversely proportional to the weight of said first and second members, respectively.

3. In a washing machine, a first container for holding material to be washed, a second container for holding material to be washed, said second container being smaller and lighter than through an arc of greater amplitude.

4. In a washing machine, a washing member, a washing and drying member lighter than said washing member, a driving motor, means for operatively connecting said motor to said members for oscillating said members out of phase with each other and for oscillating said washing and drying member through an arc of greater amplitude than said washing member, and means for operatively connecting said motor to only said washing and drying member for rotating the latter.

5. In a washing machine, a first container for holding washing fluid and material to be washed, a second container for holding washing fluid and material to be washed, a driving motor, and crank mechanism connecting said motor with said containers and operative to oscillate both said containers, said mechanism being con-,

the first container is reversing its direction of rotation, the parts of the crank mechanism ac tuating the respective containers being constructed and arranged to substantially equalize the driving torque on the motor and means to disconnect said crank mechanism from the motor and cause unidirectional rotation of one of said containers by the motor.

,TORD ERIK DANIEL BILDE. SVEN GUSTAF ADOLF FAGERBERG. 

